The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-06-16
The State Crops.

The State Crops.
The Department of Agriculture has
received two hundred and forty-six
special reports from its township cores
pondents regarding the crops, of an
average date of June l., of which the
following is summary:
COTTON.
The crop is from two to three weeks
earlier, and stands better than last year.
The crop is clean and growing rapidly,
and is now verging to limb and square,
and looks vigorous and healthy. 1t has
not been decreased in acreage-reported
at 96 per cent.
The condition is reported in upper
Carolina at 102 per cent. middle Caro-.
lima, 102, and in lower Carolina, 100.
An average for the State of 101 per cent.
This is above the condition at the same
period in 1882, 1883, and in 1884, when
it was reported at 96, and in 1886 at 86
per cent, showing that the crop is in q
better condition that for period of
years.
| COhNs
The growth of corn was somewhat re.
tarded BY the dry weather in April and
early May, but recent rains in nearly
every section of the State has improved
its condition very much. On sandy and
bottom lands is good.
Owing to the favorable Spring and
absence from floods the bottom lands
have been better prepared and planted
earlier than usual.
Correspondents estimate the crop on
bottoms at % per cent, and on uplands
at u per cent.
:. The condition of the crop in upper
Carolina on bottoms SO, on uplands at
400; in middle Carolina on bottoms go,
on uplauds 90; in lower Carolina 81 on
bottoms, on uplands 90; making an
average for the State, on both bottoms
and uplands, "a per cent, against 80 per
cent. compared to the crop OF last year.
WHEAT AND OATS.
Wheat and Fall sown oats were injured
by freezes, the former little and the
latter very much; but where the oats
were too thin for stand were resolved in
early Spring.
The correspondents report that the
crop will yield much better than expect
ed, the recent rains having very much
improved the condition Of the crop.
Harvesting has commenced in some
localities.
The condition of both crops is reported
at 81 per cent. for wheat and 81 per cent.
for oats, against Is per cent. Tor each
last year.
FERTILIZERS.
The amount of commercial fertilizers
sold in the State for the past season, as is
shown by the books of the Department,
is less than the season Of 1885 and '86.
Correspondents report that the following
percentage of commercial fertilizers were
used this year: Ammoniated, 46; acid
phosphate, 43; .kainit, IL; chemicals,
g; and that 80 per cent. purchased was
used for composing, and that per cent.
of kainit was used this year as compared
to 1886.
GENERAL SUMMARY.
Last year it was estimated that 19 per
cent. less farm supplies was purchased
than in 1885, and this year 16 per cent.
more than last, still making decrease of
8 per Cent. less than in 1885. This in-
crease is due to freshets, which destroyed
the entire corn crop on the bottoms,
forcing farmers to buy at the beginning
of the season.
I But our farmers are cheerful, hopeful
and buoyant, and do not complain. And
when it is recollected that less fertilizers
have been purchased, labor cheaper and
tbs. crop cultivated at less cost up to this
time than any crop for years, they have
some reasons for rejoicing. Labor in
nearly every locality has been more
plentiful. Owing to the failure of the
crop last year taught them to prepare for
the worst, and, as one correspondent
puts it: "They hold their own wonder
fully; most of them started with moth
ing and still have it."
CTHER CROPS.
The condition of sorghum sugar cane
is reported good. Correspondents esti.
mate that the acreage has been increased.
Condition of sorghum and sugar came
each SO against 80 for both crops last
year.
The estimated increase in acreage Of
the sweet potato is placed at 2 per cent,
or l01 for the State, and condition at SO
per cent.
The acreage Of Irish potatoes has been
reported / per cent. decrease, and the
condition for the State 81 per cent, the
same as last year.
The prospects for the fruit Drop of
nearly all kinds are not encouraging.
Apples, peaches and pears were badly
injured by the cold winds in early
Spring. The grape and berry crops are
reported as very promising. The con.
dition of fruit is reported as follows:
apples, so; peaches, %; pears, 38;
grapes, SO; berries, SO. The condition
of garden products is reported at 96 per
cent, against 88 last year.
Out of two hundred and twenty three
correspondents reporting the state of the
weather, LAG report good, 20 fair and Z
bad, showing that the seasons have been
propitious for the growing crops.